Redbirds escape upset, take down Quincy

Posted on November 27, 2015
Paris Lee vs Quincy
Paris Lee collected 14 points and five assists en route to a 10 point win over Quincy. (Photo credit: Nick McClintock/WJBC)

By Austin Duncan

NORMAL, Ill- The ISU men’s basketball used a late 12-2 run to take down Division II Quincy 73-63 on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

Illinois State led 33-28 at halftime before both teams came out hot in the second half.

It was a fury of points scored to start the second half, as 23 combined points were scored within the first five minutes.

Quincy completed a 12-2 run with 12:21 to play in the game, taking a 51-49 led.

The Hawk’s Von Washington III hit a three with 8:24 to play to give Quincy its biggest lead of the game at 61-58.

The Redbirds ended the game on a 15-2 run over the last 8:02 to capture the victory.

Illinois State was paced by senior guard Devaughn Akoon-Purcell’s 18 points. Paris Lee added 14 points with three three-pointers. Junior guard Tony Wills and sophomore forward Deontae Hawkins added 11 and 12 points respectively. Freshman forward David Ndiaye collected a career high nine points.

The Redbirds collected 15 assists on 22 baskets led by Lee and Akoon-Purcell who had five a piece. Freshman Roland Griffin collected three assists, in his first career start.

ISU outrebound Quincy 44-40 in a collaborative effort led by Wills and Hawkins who added seven each.

Quincy was led in scoring by Joseph Tagarelli’s 12 points.

This was the Redbirds fifth game in a nine day span. ISU went 2-3 over the stretch including a narrow 77-66 loss to No. 2 Maryland.

Illinois State improves to 3-4 on the season and returns to action on Monday as it travels to Lexington to take on No. 1 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Tip is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Redbird Preview will be at 5 p.m.

Listen to postgame comments from head coach Dan Muller and sophomore forward Deontae Hawkins here.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…